More than 1,600 arrests during latest crackdown on County Line drug dealers

The national crackdown saw 557 weapons seized, alongside four XL bullies, as well as £1.98 million in cash across the country during the seven-day long ‘intensification week’.

National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead for County Lines, Commander Paul Brogden, said: “Policing continues to disrupt and dismantle County Lines networks across England and Wales.

“The latest intensification week figures shows policing continuing to make inroads into these criminal networks. During the latest intensification week, we closed 261 County Lines and targeted the drug dealers who destroy lives and communities, resulting in over 1,660 criminals arrested during the week.

“The relentless enforcement activity, as showcased during this and previous intensification weeks, has led to changes in the County Lines business model, as drug dealers seek to adapt and evade detection. We will continue to be agile in our approach to continue to effectively suppress and disrupt drugs supply chains.

“However, County Lines drug dealing continues to be linked with the most serious violence, demonstrated through the horrific weapons seized across the week, where we saw 557 weapons seized, which included 75 firearms, 377 bladed weapons, 105 other weapons like knuckledusters, nun chucks and hammers.

“This is why we continue to focus on a prevention-first approach to tackling County Lines, with over 1,400 people safeguarded during the week, of which 48 per cent were children.

“Stopping people being drawn in, whilst working to prepare communities for the impact of County Lines is vital. Protecting children and vulnerable adults, safeguarding them from harm, along with relentlessly pursuing offenders remains one of our key priorities.”

County Lines is the term used to describe drug dealing where mobile phones are used to supply drugs, typically from large cities to towns and rural areas. County Lines are run by ‘Line Holders’ and the runners, often vulnerable people, deliver the drugs. The runners are often children being exploited and may possess knives or other weapons. The system of drug distribution leads to serious violence and exploitation.

The intensification week, which ran from Monday November 25 to Sunday December 2, saw more than £3 million worth of Class A and Class B drugs seized – 5.2kg of crack cocaine, 6.1kg of heroin, 33.5kg of cocaine, together with around 19,000 cannabis plants.

In total, 1,434 people were safeguarded and 853 ‘cuckooed’ addresses visited.

Crime and Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said: “County lines is one of the most violent and exploitative model of drug supply and we are determined to stop these heartless gangs from luring young people into a life of crime.

“During the week of intensive action, I saw firsthand how hard police officers work to stop county lines activity and remove dangerous drugs, weapons and criminals from our streets. I want to pay my personal thanks to them all.

“The Government has committed to introducing a new offence to tackle child criminal exploitation and our Young Futures programme will provide positive support for young people in their communities, to help draw them away from crime.”

Across the week, officers up and down the country concentrated efforts to crack down on County Lines.

The Centurion (Surrey/Sussex dedicated County Lines teams) and Operation Orochi – Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) dedicated County Lines teams – worked in partnership to arrest and charge two County Lines criminals who were exploiting children to supply crack cocaine and heroin on the ‘Ghost’ line, running from London to Brighton. Both offenders have been charged with drugs supply and modern slavery offences.

Four warrants were executed in South Yorkshire and Chesterfield resulting in the arrest of four individuals and the seizure of more than £35,000 worth of Class A drugs, 23 mobile phones, an imitation firearm, bladed weapons and more than £4,000 in cash.

British Transport Police (BTP) made two arrests and seized 70 wraps of heroin, an imitation firearm, an air rifle, Zombie knives, knuckle dusters and a crossbow.

Kent Police, the MPS Operation Orochi and BTP’s County Lines teams all worked together to arrest the line holder and runner of the ‘Junior County Lines’, operating from London to Kent supplying crack cocaine, cocaine and heroin. Crack cocaine and heroin valued at around £15,000-£20,000, £4,000 in cash and three zombie knives were recovered.

The North East Regional Organised Crime Unit arrested three individuals at an American Sweet and Vape Shop with a large quantity of amphetamine and diazepam seized.

The NPCC says County Lines drug dealing is linked to the most serious violence, demonstrated through the weapons seized across the week, including knuckle dusters, hammers, and knives.

“Young children and vulnerable adults are often groomed to run drugs from one city to other parts of the country. Grooming is often followed by extreme violence and coercive behaviour,” said the NPCC.

“During the intensification week, 1,434 were actively safeguarded, with police forces working with relevant services and charities to help safeguard children and vulnerable adults, using a variety of options available to them, including specialist support referrals, strategy meetings, safety plans created and modern slavery crime reports.

“Police can also bring victimless prosecutions for modern slavery offences, just one of the many ways officers are protecting young people. Victimless prosecutions ensure children and vulnerable adults are spared the ordeal of having to go through the court process to give evidence and face the violent and abusive individual responsible for their suffering.”

Missing People’s Safecall service provided a confidential and anonymous helpline and support service for young people and family members in England and Wales that are affected by County Lines and criminal exploitation. The service also provides confidential support and advice for professionals in relation to their work with an exploited young person or family.

James Simmonds-Read, national programme manager at The Children’s Society, said: “Exploitation is a sad reality for too many children throughout the UK today.

“Sexually abused, forced to steal, launder money, and move drugs; children are seeing their childhood ebbing away, powerless in the face of those who control and exploit them.

“Despite some signs of progress, all too often these children are blamed for their abuse, labelled as troublemakers, complicit, or told that they should have made different ‘choices’. But children cannot choose whether they experience abuse.

“During this #LookCloser week, we want to ensure that victim blaming is consigned to history.

“By recognising these children as victims, no matter who they are or how they behave, and by taking action to get them support, you can help stop exploitation in its tracks.”

Sharon Maciver, criminal exploitation director at Action for Children said: “Action for Children has over ten years’ experience protecting children and young people from criminal exploitation across the UK. We see the devastating harms caused to children, their families and communities by exploitation in our frontline services every day.

“Criminal exploitation of children is child abuse. But the victims are often not identified as such, due to the nature of them being exploited into committing crimes.

“We know from our work that there are many different risk factors than can make a young person more vulnerable to exploitation, including neurodiversity, family breakdown and poverty. But we also know it can affect any child, from any background.

“We can and must do better at identifying and safeguarding children from criminal exploitation, but no one agency can tackle this problem alone. With commitment to real change, we could significantly improve the wellbeing and safety of children across the UK.

“That is why we are calling on the government to develop a national strategy that details the expectations of partners working to address those causing harm to children, as well as those involved in protection.”

Victims of County Lines exploitation also received support from Catch22, a not-for-profit, one-to-one specialist support service for young people under 25, helping children escape drug gangs in four priority locations – London, West Midlands, Merseyside and Greater Manchester, where young people are often targeted.

Catch22 will safely make contact with young people who have been referred by safeguarding partners, such as the police and children’s services, and work with them to exit their involvement in County Lines activity.